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PWS 150 Exam 1
Horribly boring class.
53
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
09/29/2012

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Cards

Term
Environment
Definition
the combination of all things and factors external to the individual or population of organisms
Term
Ecology
Definition
the study of any and all aspects of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
a grouping of plants animals and other organisms interacting with each other and with their environment
Term
Biosphere
Definition
overall ecosystem on earth
Term
Trophic Level
Definition
feeding level with respect to the primary source of energy.
Term
Wetland
Definition
areas that are constantly wet and are flooded at more or less regular intervals
Term
1st Trophic Level
Definition
green plants
Term
2nd Trophic Level
Definition
primary consumers
Term
3rd Trophic Level
Definition
secondary consumers
Term
Conservation
Definition
wise and sustainable use
Term
Preservation
Definition
no use and no impacts
Term
Exploitation
Definition
complete utilization, destruction, or mining of resources
Term
Symbiotic w/ example
Definition
intimate living together or association of two kinds of organisms

mycorrhizae
Term
Aerobic
Definition
with oxygen
Term
Anaerobic
Definition
lacking oxygen
Term
Heterotrophic w/ examples
Definition
organism that consumes organic matter as a source of energy

cow/horse/bee
Term
Autotrophic w/ examples
Definition
organism that produces organic matter as a source of energy

grass/flowers/etc
Term
Photosynthesis
Definition
light energy is used to produce glucose from CO2 and H20
Term
Chorophyll
Definition
green pigment in plants responsible for absorbing light
Term
Chemosynthesis
Definition
process where some microorganisms utilize the chemical energy contained in reduced inorganic compounds as a source of energy
Term
Primary Producer
Definition
photosynthesis organisms

create their own food
Term
Consumer
Definition
Consume other organisms for energy
Term
Fungal Hyphae or Mycelium
Definition
threadlike feeding filaments of fungi
Term
Stewardship
Definition
attitude of active care and concern for natural lands.
Term
Eminent Domain
Definition
action of the state to seize private property or not allow use for monetary compensation
Term
Mychorrizae
Definition
mycelia of fungi that grown symbiotically with the roots of the plants and provide additional nutrient uptake
Term
Multiple use of federal lands
Definition
Wilderness areas, national parks, grazing, mining, logging, recreation, wildlife
Term
Biodiversity
Definition
variety of organisms and their interactions
Term
Rain Shadow
Definition
low rainfall regions that exists on the downwind side of a mountain range.
Term
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Definition
Federal mandate that protects species and their habitats that are in danger of extinction
Term
Groundwater
Definition
water that has accumulated in the ground, completely filling and saturating all pores and spaces in rock or soil
Term
Capillary Water
Definition
water that clings in small pores, cracks and spaces against the pull of gravity
Term
Infiltration
Definition
process in which water soaks into soul as opposed to running off the surface of the soil
Term
Percolation
Definition
process of water seeping downward through cracks and pores in soil or rock
Term
Leaching
Definition
process in which material in or on the soil gradually dissolve and are carried by water seeping through the soil
Term
Prokaryotic Cells
Definition
cells with no nucleus or membrane bound organelles
Term
Eukaryotic Cells
Definition
cells with a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

plant/animal cells
Term
1st law of Thermodynamics
Definition
energy can be changed from one form or another, but cannot be created nor destroyed
Term
2nd law of Thermodynamics
Definition
in all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state

entropy
Term
Geometric vs. Arithmetic increases (who wrote about these)
Definition
geometric= constant growth
arithmetic=rate of change is increasing
Term
6CO2 + 6H2O + light -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Definition
photosynthesis
Term
N2 -> Organic N
Definition
fixation
Term
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2+ 6H2O + energy
Definition
cell respiration
Term
NH4OH -> NH3 (gas) + H2O
Definition
volitization
Term
Organic N -> NH4+
Definition
mineralization
Term
NH4+ -> NO2- -> NO3-
Definition
nitrification
Term
NO3- -> Organic N
Definition
immobilization
Term
NO3- -> NO2- -> N2O -> N2
Definition
denitrification
Term
Nitrate moving downward with percolating water.
Definition
leaching
Term
Soluble phosphate -> insoluble (fixed) phosphate
Definition
phosphorous cycle
Term
Epilimnion
Definition
top-most layer in a thermally stratified lake
Term
Thermocline
Definition
transition layer between deep and surface water
Term
Hypolimnion
Definition
dense, bottom layer of water in a thermally-stratified lake
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